It hasn't been released yet but the first movie of the Hobbit trilogy is already in the running for a special effects Oscar.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the 10 films in the running in the Visual Effects category for the Academy Awards.

They are: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Amazing Spider-Man, Cloud Atlas, The Dark Knight Rises, John Carter, Life of Pi, Marvel's The Avengers, Prometheus, Skyfall, and Snow White and the Huntsman.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey features CGI and a frame rate of 48 frames per second - twice the traditional rate.

Members of the Visual Effects Branch will watch 10-minute excerpts from each of the 10 shortlisted films on January 3, before nomiating five films for final Oscar consideration.

The nominations for the 85th Academy Awards will be announced on January 10, with the awards on February 24.